If so, there are 4 events taking place over the next week that you should check out!

Tonight, as part of Celtic Connections, there will be a talk on Gaelic in the Media at Pacific Quay, starting at 19:00. The event is free but ticketed, and you can book via the Celtic Connections website.

Also, next Wednesday, 30th January, the will be a talk on The Origins of Our Tongues, shining a light on how the indigenous languages of Scotland came to be. The event is hosted by the University of the Highlands and Islands, and chaired by comedian Susan Morrison. It runs from 19:00 to 21:00, at City Halls, and it is free but ticketed. To book a place, or find out more, contact City Halls or see the Celtic Connections website.

On Saturday 26th January, the CCA in Glasgow will host this month’s Ceòl is Craic event, Càirdean Ceilteach, , featuring music from Irish, Breton and Welsh artists, and culminating in a set from Gaelic singer and Ùlpan tutor extraordinaire, Joy Dunlop. The evening kicks off with the Conversation Cafe from 18:00 – 19:00, which is free and open to all abilities. Also, the first ten people to attend the Conversation Cafe will get in free to the main event! Abair bargan!

Next Tuesday, 29th January, there will be an informal meeting to discuss the formation of a Gaelic Reading Group in Glasgow. The meeting will take place at the University of Glasgow Centre for Open Studies, in the St. Andrew’s Building on Eldon Street, from 18:00. The group will be an opportunity for post-beginner learners and above, including fluent speakers, to get together to read and talk about Gaelic writing, in Gaelic, in a friendly and informal environment.

The provisional proposal is to look at the short stories on ansgeulachdghoirid.com by Iain Mac a’ Ghobhainn, Iain Moireach and Ruaraidh MacThomais, among others. Both the texts and sound recordings of the stories are available through the website free of charge.

The e-book is full of advice and ideas about what you can do in between Ùlpan classes to keep your Gaelic in good shape. There are details of free, online resources, plus information about further courses and other Gaelic get-togethers you can attend.

Have a read through the book and find what works for you. Try and do something every day, no matter how small. You can then build on that week by week, at a rate that suits you.

The e-book can be downloaded through your student account. If you don’t have an account yet, you can self-register at ulpan.co.uk, by clicking on the top-right tab marked “students”.

In addition to the sound files now available for students to practice with at home, we have written a short e-book with useful information on what you can do at home and between classes to help your progress. You can download this through your account on the Ùlpan website.

The e-book has details of Gaelic resources for learners, many of which area available online for free, and it also has some handy hints and tips for learning exercises you can do at home. We hope this will help keep motivation levels up and help bring you closer to fluency!

Have a read through the book and find out what might work for you. As we all know, learning a language isn’t easy, so the more Gaelic you can fit into your daily routine, the better your progress will be. Good luck!

Introducing Peallaidh!

Peallaidh is an ùraisg, a water-being from Gaelic mythology, with more than a hint of a wildcat about him. Ùraisgean are known as brownies or water-sprites in English.

Although quite shy, he is very knowledgeable noneless. He enjoys word-play and above all else is especially fond of dairy products.

Just now, he is hiding somewhere on the Ùlpan website. And before you ask, this page doesn’t count!

Your task is to find him on the website, and send a personal message on his favourite social network, to let him know where he has been found.

For the successful completion of this mission before next Wednesday at 12pm (23/01/13), Peallaidh will award one lucky winner an Ùlpan t-shirt.

Luc mhath!

About Peallaidh

Ùraisgean seldom speak to humans, but often engaged in long and affectionate conversations with one another – in Gaelic of course.

They hold large gatherings as well, usually in remote places beside waterfalls, and on rocky shores. The founder of Scottish place-names studies and native speaker of Ross-shire Gaelic, William J Watson, wrote in 1926 that every watercourse in Breadalbane had an ùraisg at one time and their king was Peallaidh, whose name is still heard in the place-name, Obar Pheallaidh (Aberfeldy).

Usually, only those who have second sightcan see ùraisgean, though there are instances when they make themselves visible to ordinary people as well. They are said to be jolly and personable…

This group started planning in February 2012. Their classes started in April 2012, with a full 14 participants. The class has gone from strength to strength – you can read more about it here: http://ulpangaelic.wordpress/com. If your community would like to get involved with Ùlpan, email Àdhamh (Adam) – adhamh@ulpan.co.uk.